Door latch



F. M. PHILLIPS DOOR LATCH Aug. 23, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 22, 1952 Aug. 23, 1955 F. M. PHlLLxPs 2,716,039

DOOR LATCH Filed Nov. 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O DOOR LATCH Frank M. Phillips, Utica, Pa.

Application November 22, 1952, Serial No. 321,978

9 Claims. (Cl. 292-163) This invention relates to a lock and to means for actuating the lock. More specically, the invention relates to a lock and latch mechanism, in which a latch is provided with alternative locking means, actuation of either of the lock means serving to prevent actuation of the other lock means by virtue of an interlock interconnecting the two lock means.

The invention further relates to actuating means for door latch and locking mechanism, the actuating means preferably being electrical, more specifically, including an electromagnet, and the electric circuit being so arranged that energizaton of the electromagnet serves to break the energizing circuit at the same time that the lock mechanism is actuated.

There are circumstances in the field of locks and latch mechanisms in which it is desirable to provide more than one means of locking a latch, and at the same time assuring that the actuation of one of the lock means serves by means of an interlock to prevent actuation of the other lock means. Where actuation of the lock means is electrical, it is of course necessary to provide some source of electric power. A convenient source of electric power is a battery, either a storage battery or a battery of the dry cell type. When reliance for electric power falls on a battery, it is of course desirable to have the power circuit closed a minimum of time in order to avoid all unnecessary drain on the battery. It is thus desirable to provide a lock actuating circuit which, after actuation of the lock, leaves the circuit open so as not to tax the battery unnecessarily.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a. lock and latch mechanism and actuating means therefor in which a plurality of lock means are provided for a latch, the several lock means being interlocked so that actuation of one lock means prevents actuation of the other lock means; it is a further object to provide actuatt ing means for the locking mechanism which relies upon at least one electromagnet the circuit of which provides for its own interruption so that the power circuit is no longer closed after the locking operation has taken place. These and other objects are accomplished by means of mechanism which is described in detail below and which is shown in detail in the appended drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an isometric View of a latch and locking mechanism made according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in section substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view in section substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a View in section. substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in section substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram and schematic View of the actuating mechanism in one operating position; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the parts `in another operating position.

2,716,039 Patented Aug. 23, 1955 ICC Referring now to Figs. l through 5 for a detailed description of the door latch and locking mechanism, a latch-receiving body is shown at 2; for the sake of convenience in manufacture and assembly, in the embodiment of the invention shown, the latch-receiving body is made up of three block members 4, 6 and 8, the three block members being held together by any suitable means, as for example the threaded members 9, the heads of which are shown at 10.

The latch-receiving body is provided with a recess 12 which is adapted to receive a latch 14. The latch 14 is movably mounted in the recess 12; in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the latch 14 is shown as being reciprocable in the recess 12, biased outwardi. e., in a latching direction-by a spring 16. The inner end of the latch 14 is provided with a stem 18 which extends outward through an opening in a plate 20, plate 20 being secured to the latch-receiving body 2 by means of threaded members 22. Spring 16 is prefer ably a coil spring and abuts at its one end against the plate 20 and at its other end against the inner endy of the latch 14, being arranged to surround the stem 18. A collar 24 is secured to the stem 18 outside the plate 2l) near the outer end of stem 18. Stem 18 is also provided with a connecting lug 26 which permits connection of stem 18 with any conventional latch operating mechanisrn, not shown here.

A plurality of lock means are provided to lock the latch 14 against movement. One of such lock means is shown at 2S, the lock means 28 being conveniently referred to as rst-named lock means. Lock means 28 is a substantially cylindrical pin in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings. The pin is provided vwith collars 30 and 32 near its ends, these collars serving to restrain the lock means against axial displacement while at the same time permitting angular movement thereof. A handle 34 is preferably provided at one end of the pin to permit connection of the lock means with any suitable conventional lock actuating mechanism.

The rst-named lock means 28 is of course mounted in the'body 2, in the embodiment shown lying in a substantially cylindrical recess in the body 2, this recess being provided in adjacent block members 4 and 6. The lock means 28 is disposed in the latch-receiving body 2 immediately adjacent the latch 14, and is slotted as shown at 36 so that, with the lock means 28 oriented in a given position, reciprocating movement of the latch 14 is unimpeded. Latch 14 is provided in its surface adjacent lock means 28 with a semi-cylindrical recess 38, recess 38 being so located as to be alined with the pin of the lock means 28 when the latch 14 is in its latching position-i. e., moved to its extreme right position as seen in Fig. 2.

The cylindrical recess 38 is preferably substantially the same size as the cylindrical pin of the lock means 28, so that angular displacement or rotation of the lock means by means of handle 34, with latch 14 in its latching position, turns the solid portion of the lock means 28 into the groove or recess 38, thus effectively preventing reciprocation of the latch 14. Inasmuch as the only reciprocatory movement of latch 14l which can be effected from the position shown in Fig. 2 is toward the left, the lock means 28 should be turned counterclockwise as seen in Figs. 1 and 5 for the most elective locking of latch 14 against movement.

Second-named lock means 40 is also provided in the latch-receiving body 2, lock means 40 being preferably although not necessarily provided in the block so as to engage the opposite face of latch 14. Lock means 40 may also be a substantially cylindrical pin mounted in a substantially cylindrical recess, which in the preferred form i6s shown as being provided in the adjacent block members and 8.

v ln the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the second-named lock means 40 is mounted to reciprocate in its recess in the latch-receiving body 2. In orderthat the second-named lock'means 40 may permit unimpeded movement of latch 14 in the unlocked position of the lock means 40, lock means`40 is provided with a slot 42* which is substantially as long as the vertical dimension of the latch 14. The lock means 40 Yis placedr immediately adjacent the latch means 14 so that in the unlocked position of the parts, the one face'of latch 14 slidably engages the bottom of the slot 42. Y Y

In order to permit locking of the latch 14 against movement by the lock -means 40, a substantially cylindrical Vrecess 44 is provided in the adjacent surface of latch 14,`

recess or groove 44 being provided only in the lower portion of the surface.l Y

. The second-named lock means 40 carries at its upper end a'suitable connecting lug 46 for connection to any suitable actuating mechanism for the lock means. A collar 48 is preferably provided on the lock means to limit the downward movement of the lock means. Thus,'ver tical movement of the lock means 40 as seen in Fig. 3, withV the latch 14 in its extreme right position as seen in Fig. 2, moves the unslotted, full diameter portion of the lock means 40 into thecylindrical groove or recess 44,

thus. effectively locking the latch 14 against reciprocatory movement in the recess 12. VAn interlock is associated with both lock means and is operable upon actuation of either lock means to prevent actuation ofthe other lock means. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the interlock takes-the form of--a pin 50 which is mounted for limited reciprocatory movement in a substantially cylindrical bore 52 provided in the block member 6. In the embodiment shown, with the two lock members 28 and 40 st raddlingV the latch 14 with the block member 6 between Y them, the pin 50 comprising the interlock also conveniently lies Vin the block member 6, although `it Vwill of course be understood by those skilled in the art that other arrangements are possibile within the scope and spirit of this invention. Y

To actuate the interlock, the two lock means 28 and 40' are provided with cams,the ends of the interlock pin being positionedto be engaged by the camfor reciprocation Vof. the pin. Thus, to provide the cams, each lock means is provided with a recess at least one surface of which constitutes a cam and the interlock pin ends form means which cooperate with the cam of a selected lock means when that selected means is actuated, the opposite end of the interlock pin engaging the recess of the other lock means. e

.More specifically, the rst-named lock means 28 is provided with a substantially rectangular slot or recess 54 A immediately opposite the bore 52 in which the interlock pin 50 lies. The edge (or surface) shown at 56 constitutes a cam which, for counterclockwise rotation of the lock means 28, serves to engage the substantially at pin end to move the pin 50 to the right as seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

Correspondingly, the lock means 40 is provided with a concave recess 58 opposite the bore 52, the lower surface 60 of'the recess 58 forming a cam which engages theV rounded cam-follower end of pin 50 upon upward move- Clt Figs. 6 and 7 is conveniently provided with a connecting bodiment shown, the armature 104 is 'shown as beingk considerably longer than either of the Velectromagnets 106 and 108. As a result, energization of either electromagnet will tend to center the armature 104 in that electromagnet, with the result that the-magnetic center of the armature 104 will'tend to move toward the magnetic center of the energized electromagnet. Any of a number of conventional over-center devices indicated generally Y at 110 is preferably provided to insure positive movement` of the'armature 104 from one position to another. Thus,

the upper end of armature 104 is shown as beingrcon- Y nected to the toggle 112 by means of a link 114, toggle 112 being connected to assure positive snap actionfby means of a suitable spring 116.

' Any suitable source of electric power may be used to energize the electromagnet. In the embodiment shown, a conventional storage battery such as might be found in an ordinary automobile is shown at 118. Theibattery is grounded as shown at 120, and its positive terminal is connected by means of a conductor 122 with a switchV 124. Switch 124 lwill be connected to move between the contacts N and D by movement of the automobile shift lever, whether that shift lever be part of an automatic transmission or be associated with a conventional transmission. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the switch 124 will occupy the N positioni. e., connect conductor 122 with the terminal N-when the transmission control arm or lever is in its neutral position, and will connect the conductor 122 with the terminal D when the transmission control lever isfin the drive position for automatic transmissions or'in high gear lfor conventional transmissions. Other arrangements may be made which will be equally suitable, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Means are provided to connect the solenoids Yfor electromagnets 106 and 108 in alternation with the'power source 118, these means including a conductor 126 movable by the armature 104 to break the power circuit of whichever solenoid is energized in order to effect movement of the armature, as will be more fully explained below. e

Thus, a circuit for the solenoid or electromagnet 108 may-include spaced contacts 128 and 130, the contact 128 being connected with contact N by means of a conductor 132, and contact 130 being connected with one end of electromagnet 108 by means of a conductor 134. The other end of electromagnet l108 is grounded asshown at 136.l

A second pair of spaced contacts 138Vand 140 forms part of a circuit for the electromagnet or solenoid 106; Contact 138 is connected with terminal Dby means of a conductor 142 in which there is preferably provided a switch 144 which is interconnected with the ignition switch in such a manner as to` be closed when the ignition vswitch is closed and open when the ignition switch 'is open. Contact is connected with one end of electromagnet 106 by means of a conductor 14,6, andthe other end of the electromagnet 106V is grounded as jshown at 148.k

' Operation Reference will now be made again to Figs. 1-5 for an understanding of the functioning or operation of the latch and locking mechanism forming a partof vention. If' the lock means 28 is actuated by'counte'rclockwise movement of. the handle: 34 as seen in Figs. 1 and 5, the solid unslotted portion of the lockV means 28 rotates into the semi-cylindrical groove or recess 38 in the adjacent surface or face of the latch 14. The latch 14 will thus be eteetively locked against leftward movement as seen in Fig. 2.

At the same time, the lower edge or surface 56 of the recess 54 serves as a cam andI engages the flat or plane end of the interlock pin 50, moving pin 50 to the right as seen in Figs 3 and 4.- Y As pin 501 moves to the right, its rounded or rightend engages thefrecess 58, and is held in engagement' with that recess.V With the interlock pinl in the position shown in0 Figs. 3--and 4, and securely held in that position by means of the cam surface 56, the lock means 40 is eifectively held against actuation, namely vertical movement as seen in Fig. 3.

With both lock means 28 and 40 in the unlocked position, vertical movement of lock means 40 as seen in Fig. 3 will move the solid or unslotted lower portion of lock means 40 into the semi-cylindrical recess or groove 44 in the adjacent lower surface or face of the latch 14, effectively holding the latch against possible leftward reciprocation as seen in Fig. 2. At the same time, vertical upward movement brings the surface 60 to bear against the rounded end of interlock pin 50, camming the pin 50 to the left as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and moving the left end of the pin into the rectangular recess 54 of the lock means 28. This engagement of the left end of the interlock pin 50 with the recess 54 effectively prevents locking movement of the lock means 28.

With both lock means 28 and 40 in the unlocked position as seen in Fig. 3, the latch 14 is of course free to reciprocate in its recess 12.

Referring now again to Figs. 6 and 7 for an understanding of the operation of the lock actuating means, let it be assumed that the lock actuating means is mounted on an automobile and that the automobile has been standing with the transmission control lever in the neutral position. shown in Fig. 6. When the operator of the automobile closes the ignition switch, he automatically also closes the switch 144. When he moves the transmission control lever from its neutral position to a drive position, he moves the switch 124 at the same time from the position shown in Fig. 6, wherein switch 124 contacts the terminal N, downward or clockwise so that switch 124 contacts the terminal D.

An electric circuit is thereupon established from the positive terminal of battery 118 to electromagnet 106 as follows: conductor 122, switch 124, contact D, conductor 142 and switch 144, stationary or spaced contact 138, conductor or bridging contact 126, stationary or spaced contact 140, conductor 146, electromagnet 106, and back to the negative of the battery through the ground connections 148 and 120.

With the circuit thus established, electromagnet 106 is energized, and the magnetic center of armature 104 moves upward in an attempt to aline itself with the magnetic center of the electromagnet 106. Positive movement is assured by the over-center device 110. As the armature snaps upward, it breaks the circuit across spaced contacts 138 and 140, thus deenergizing the electromagnet 106. Also, as the armature 104 snaps upward, it moves the connected lock into its lockedposition. Note however, that there is no longer any drain on the battery, because the armature and the bridging contact are now in the position shown in Fig. 7, there being no longer a complete circuit for the electromagnet 106 because of the upward movement of the bridging contact or conductor 126. There is as yet no completed circuit for the electromagnet 108 because the switch 124 is still in contact with the terminal D, it being assumed that the automobile equipped with this invention is moving along the highway with the transmission control lever in one of the drive positions.

The armature is in its unlocked position as Let it now be assumed that the operator of the autornobilebrings. the vehicle to a halt, and as he stops, moves the transmission control lever into a neutral position. As he does so,.he at the same time automatically moves the switch 124 from contact with terminal D into contact with terminal N, thereby establishing a circuit for electromagnet 108 as follows: conductor 122, switch 124, terminal N, conductor 132, spaced contact 128, bridging contact 126, spaced contact 130, conductor 134, and one end of electromagnet 108, the other end being connected with the negative terminal of the battery by means of the ground connections 136 and 120.

The result of this circuit just completed for the. electromagnet 108 is that the magnetic center of armature 104 moves downward in an effort to aline itself with the magnetic center of electromagnet 108. In its downward movement, armature 104 moves its connected lock means into the unlocked position, and at the same it moves the conductor or bridging contact 126 downward to break the circuit for electromagnet 108. There is thus no drain on the battery.

It will of course be understood by those skilled in the art that other applications of this invention may be made. For example, it may be desirable to apply the invention described and claimed herein to means for locking the door of a house. Thus, the lock means 28 could be connected for actuation by a conventional key, while the lock means 40 could be connected for actuation electrically by means of a conveniently located button. Other applications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a latch and locking mechanism, a latch-receiving body having a recess adapted to receive a latch, a latch movably mounted in the recess, first-named lock means in said body and actuable to engage the latch to prevent movement thereof, second-named lock means in the body and actuable to engage the latch to prevent movement thereof, and an interlock associated with both lock means and operable upon actuation of either lock means to prevent actuation of the other lock means.

2. Mechanism as in claim l, in which the interlock includes a pin reciprocably mounted in the body.

3. Mechanism as in claim 2, in which the two lock means are provided with cams, the ends of the interlock pin being positioned to be engaged by the cams for reciprocation of the pin.

4. Mechanism as in claim 3, in which the cams comprise the surfaces of recesses in the lock means, the recess of a lock means being engaged by a pin and to prevent actuation of the lock means having the engaged recess.

5. In a door latch and locking mechanism, a latchreceiving body having a recess adapted to receive a latch, a latch movably mounted in the recess and having a pair of lock-receiving recesses, first-named lock means in said body and actuable to enter one of said lock-receiving recesses t0 prevent latch movement, second-named lock means in the body and actuable to enter the other lockreceiving recess to prevent latch movement, and an interlock associated with both lock means and operable upon actuation of either lock means to prevent actuation of the other lock means.

6. Mechanism as in claim 5, in which the latch is reciprocable in said body recess, the lock-receiving recesses being provided in opposite sides of the latch.

7. Mechanism as in claim 5, in which each lock means is provided with a recess at least one surface of which constitutes a cam, and means forming part of the interlock to cooperate with the cam of a selected lock means, said interlock means being adapted to engage the recess of its associated lock means to prevent actuation of said associated lock means upon actuation of the other lock means.

8. Mechanism as in claim 5, in which each lock means is provided with a recess at least one surface of which constittes arcani, and a4 pair of cam'followers forming part of the nterlocktand cooperable with the-recesses in the lock means whereby actuation of a selectedl lock means o 8 at least one surface of which is a cam, and an interlock pin movable in the body by the cam of a selected lock means to engage the recess of the other lock means, whereby actuation of either lock means prevents actuation of the other lock means.

References Cited in theleof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS f Re. 16,140 Efickson Aug. 11, 1925 336,374 Bayrhotfer Feb. 16, 1886 2,186,498 Riggs Jan. 9, 1940 2,453,505 Fornwald Nov. v9, 1948 

